18-Year-Old Student Found With Loaded Gun At Local School

MILLERSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) — An 18-year-old student was arrested after police say he brought a loaded gun to a local school.

Maleek Benjamin has been charged with several weapons charges in this case.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department reports their investigation began on Tuesday after getting reports of a video on social media that appeared to show someone with a gun at a school.

Investigators were able to identify the armed person in the video as Benjamin, a student at Old Mill High School.

The school resource officer was told about Benjamin, and school officials were able to help find him. A loaded revolver handgun was reportedly found in Benjamin’s coat pocket.

Police said they believe this wasn’t the first time he has come armed to school.

He was pulled out of his classroom by police Wednesday morning. Investigators say he brought a loaded gun to school two days in a row.

They said a teenager called police Tuesday, saying they had seen the video of a student with a gun at Old Mill High School.

“As if this wasn’t scary and disturbing enough, we know that at least two separate occasions, he had this gun on him in school. We assume if it was loaded today, that it was loaded when the video was taken,” said Sgt. Jacklyn Davis with Anne Arundel County Police.

In a note to parents, the school’s principal said she and a school resource officer pulled him out of class. It goes on to say, “I want to be clear that in our investigation to this point has not shown that the student threatened anyone,”

“I don’t think he brought it in to harm anyone,” A student said.

“He shouldn’t have brought it in. It’s just not a good idea. Why bring that to school if you’re trying to learn here,” A student said.

Police said they don’t know why Benjamin brought the gun to school, but they said he will face charges for carrying a handgun on his person on school property and under the age of 21.

“It takes that one time when tragedy could really strike and thank whoever you believe in that that didn’t happen today,” Davis said.